Greener Grazing - Principles, Paddock, Potential
Southern New England Landcare - 2021
A more variable climate with more frequent, severe and stressful droughts, means that livestock grazing businesses must increase their resilience.
There is pressure on farms to reduce their carbon footprint, and potential for reward if carbon and biodiversity are regenerated. Going forward, grazing management that supports those goals is essential for business and landscape resilience.
Southern New England Landcare engaged a range of speakers and demonstrate one form of resilient livestock grazing at Tim and Suzanne Wright's property 'Lana', near Uralla.
The event was originally planned for March 2021 during a 'gap' in Covid-19 restrictions, however due to severe flooding in northern NSW at that time, the event was cancelled at short notice.
It then pivoted to a webinar in October 2021.
Tim presented an overview of his management of Lana over the last 40 or so years and illustrated aspects of his property through short videos. Dr Judi Earl outlined the fundamental principles underpinning grazing management at ‘Lana’, as well as regenerative grazing management more generally. Mark Gardner then presented a set of experimental Natural Capital Accounts that have recently been applied to Lana. Guest speakers were followed by interactive Q&A sessions and a short workshop in breakout groups.
YouTube webinar (above) is hosted by Rachel Lawrence, SNELandcare. The presentation features Tim Wright, owner and manager of Lana (Tim has embraced Holistic Management on Lana since the mid-1980's), Dr Judi Earl, a Holistic Management trainer and grazing management consultant (Judi's doctoral research in the late 1990's was done in-part at Lana), and Mark Gardner, Holistic Management consultant.
The event attracted 52 registrants and 35 participants. Fourteen participants responded to an evaluation questionnaire after the event. Three-quarters said the event increased their knowledge and understanding of the principles of planned grazing either a moderate amount, a lot or a great deal.
Eighty-five per cent said the event increased their knowledge and understanding of the history of grazing management on Lana either a lot, or a great deal, with one commenting it was “Great to see outcomes from an extended period of time under Holistic Grazing Management”.
All participants gained knowledge around Natural Capital Accounting. When asked to what extent it did their for their business, 43% said a moderate amount, 35% said a lot and 22% said a great deal. “Mark spoke to reach a wide audience’s level of understanding… It gave us a much stronger understanding of the topic,” (participant). When asked to what extent they could implement changes based on what they had learnt, respondents ranged from stating ‘none at all’ (7%) through to a great deal (7%), with 86% of respondents being somewhere in the middle. However, when asked how likely they were to implement some of these practice in the future, 86% said it was either Very likely, or Likely.
Understanding management principles that support the water cycle, protect soils and optimise nutrient cycling help create resilient grazing businesses in the face of challenging climate variability.
Promoting a diversity of naturally present trees, grasses and herbs through planned rest and recovery allows for less reliance on purchased fodder and minimal use of applied nutrients.
Natural capital accounts accompany financial accounts to enable managers to make 'considered decisions’ and understand both the environmental and production impacts of those decisions.
The approach a landholder takes ultimately depends on their business and landscape goals.
"The best presentations are always from the hands-on, practical operators who are good communicators. Couldn't have had a better line-up of speakers." Comment by a Participant.
Image below: "Mustering Members for Climate Change Challenges". National Landcare Program, 2021.
